Time switch



Dec 11, 1928. M 1,694,472

' H. KEMPF TIME SWITCH Filed Oct. 19. 1925 INVENTOR A TTORN E Y Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES HERMAN H. KEMPF,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TIME swrrcn. v

Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,396.

My invention, relates. to automatic time switches and has a particular reference to switches built as a part of an alarm clock and adapted to be set so as to be actuated at a predetermined time.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch of the character above indicated and especially suitable to be used with an automobile clock mounted on the dashboard and adapted to control the automatic lighting of the automobile lamps at a predetermined time. By reversing its action this time switch can be used for turning off the lights in stores and electric signs.

For this purpose I provide a clock of an ordinary construction with a few additional parts so arranged that a trip spring closes a contact at a predetermined time thereby connecting the battery with the lamps which it is desired to light (for instance, a parking lamp or side and tail lamps of an automobile. The contact, thereby closed, will remain closed indefinitely, and the lamps may be then operated manually from an ordinary dashboard switch. The time mechanism may be made operative again by setting the trip spring in tension for which purpose I pro,- vide a special lever.

My invention is more clearly described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a clock with a portion cut away in order to show my switch mechanism; Figure 2 isa plan View of my switch in an open position; Figure 3 is a plan view of my switch in a closed position; Figure 4 is a side view of the clock looking in the direction of the arrow 4, Figure 2, with my switch mechanism in an open position,

and Figure 5 is a sideview looking in the direction of the arrow 5,'Figure 3, showing the switch closed.

My switch consists of resilient conducting members land 2 adapted to form electrical contact when brought together. These members ma be made in the form of copper or bronze at springs, attached to metal blocks 3 and 4 mounted on an insulating late 5. This insulating plate or supporting lock is attached to the ordinary alarm clock frame plate 6 by means of screws 7.

The blocks 3 and 4 are provided with holes 8 for insulated wires 9 forming a part of the lamp circuit; Thumb screws 10 are provided in the blocks 3 and 4 for clamping the leads 9.

A shaft 12 is rotatively mounted in the clock frame plates 6 and 11, and is provided with a handle 13 on one end, and a lever 14 on the other. The lever 14 has a pin 15 with an, insulating bushing 16 fitted over it. This bushing is adapted to press against the contact spring 2.

The portion of the shaft '12, between plates 6 and 11, is provided with a pin 17 to which one end of a spring 18 is attached. The other end of this spring is fastened to plate 11 by a screw 19. This spring tends to turn shaft 12 to such position that bushing 16 attached to lever 14 is pressed against contacts 1 and 2, thereby closing the electric circuit.

. Lever 14 has an aperture 20 near its free end. This aperture is adapted to have the end of a sliding pin 21 project within it,

thereby keeping lever 14 in inoperative position, in which position bushing 16 does not close contact springs 1 and 2 as shown in Figure 2. The end of lever 14 is curved outward as shown in Figure 5, so that it can slide over pin 21 and, bending out snap over the end of the pin with the aperture 20 for holding the lever in inoperative position.

Pin 21 rests with one end againsta spring 22 fastened to the plate 11 with a screw 23. Spring 22 is of the type usually found in alarm mechanism. This spring when released will allow pin 21 to come out of en gagement with lever 14 (Figures 1,' 4 and 5). Bushing 24 is slidably fitted over pin 21 and is fastened with screw 25. Compression spring 26 is placed on pin 21 between plate 6 and bushing 24. This sprin normally forces pin 21 against flat spring 22.

Shaft 27, rotatably mounted in plates 6 and 11, carries an index hand. 32 at one end for setting the time at which it is desired to have the switch operate. The other end of shaft 27 is provided with a thumb handle 34' for the convenient rotating of said shaft. A pin 34 projects from shaft 27 justback of plate 11. I Bushing 28, which carries gear 29 fixed'to it, is slidably and rotatably mounted on shaft 27. One end of bushing 28 is provided with a cam surface 33 which is pressed against pin 34 by the action of spring 22. Gear 29 meshes with pinion 36 which in turn meshes withgear 30 of hour hand 31. Gears 29 and 30 are of equal size, so that bushing 28 makes one complete revolution in twelve (12) hours. As cam surface 33 rotates against pin 34, the sudden depression in said surface (usual in alarm mechanism) comes opposite pin 34 permitting bnshing28 to be moved to the let-t motion between the switch elements for ope ing or closing; an electric circuit therethrough, said l r being suitably to med. tor locking engagement with. the end of said pin, sprin means fer normally pressing said pin ae'ama;

said alarm tripping device whereby said pin follows sai.:e when tripped and rule the lever, said pin projecting when ant ripped into the path of e -id lever causingl'lexm'e at 'l lever when it moved over the end ol said pi into locking engagement therewith 0 Operating means for a automatic time alarm cloc tripping devaxe p slidltbly nounted in the eel ii I a shaft rotata l mounted n said frame 7 a plurality of relatively movable switch elements, a switch lever fixed to s: apted whee shaft near one end 0: same, ad

lit tl'lQQGtIl to more to vard the switch elements 2 for ellecting relatii-e motion llEQlYfOLH said 1 elements for opening or closm in elevl U i end of circuittherethrough, the other 1 being adapted for manual rotati a, me: ns normally pressing said p n said alarm tripping device whereby in follows same when tripped and resaid switch lever, the switch lever haw ing an aperture through waich said pin, when nntripped, is adapted to pass when said. shatt is manuall turned for locking said lever awa from the switch elements.

3. In an automatic time switch, a clock echanism having an alarm tripping dewce, 5. pair of spaced resilient contact membersv or swiqh element-s insu etivcly mounted on a frame of the clock mechanism, a. shaft rotatahl mounted in said i ame, a switch lev -V "14101 near the end of said shat't, said switch adapted to rotate substantially mrallel to said frame, the rotation of said lever being to a d from said switch elements for controlne spacing between them and thereby the wit therethrough, spring means for norrotating said lever toward said. elea pin transversely slidable in said sait lever being suitably formed for J engagement away from the switch elements with the end ot said pin, spring 11'1"1118 for normally pre: igsaid win against; arm tripping de: ce whereby said pin hen tripped and withdrawn there); il'Olll e agenlent with said lever.

i: Operating means for an automatic time switch havin;* a plurality o relatively movable switch elements an alarm clock tripp ng device comprising a pin mounted transver;

oppos m cam i. l I i Cr in: Elkll oft spring COD w p 7 1 d lable in the clock frames, a shaft rotatebly comprising a pi: r mounted in the clock trames, a switch lever able in th elect "7 l: l nxed to said shaft at the rear of the rear clock frame adapted when tripped to effect relative in n between each other of the elements tor opranne or closing: an

electric circuit therethrough, said lever being;

I pa one cf suitably termed lor locking engagement with iapted when tripped the end of said pin, a handle fastened to the other end of said shaft near the front clock face, said handle projecting outwardly be tripping device whereby said pin follows same when tripped and releases the lever, said pin projecting to the rear of the rear frame, when untripped, into the path of said lever, being adapted thereby for locking engagement with said lever when manually turned away from the switch elements.

5. In an I-UtOHIHf lC time switch, a clock mechanism having an alarm tripping device, a plurality of switch elements, a shaft rotatably mounted in the clock frames, a switch lever fixed to said shaft, said switch lever being normally spring actuated to rotate substantially parallel to the clock frames towards said switch elements, the rotation of said lever to and from said switch elements controlling the circuit between them, a pin transversely movable in said frames, said lever, when manually rotated away from the switch elements, being suitably formed for locking engagement with said pin, spring means for normally pressing said pin against saidalarm tripping device whereby said pin follows same when tripped and is withdrawn thereby from engagement with said lever, and a handle fastened to said shaft near the front clock face for manually rotating said lever away from the switch elements, said handle projecting outwardly beyond the side of the clock.

6. In an automatic time switch, a clock mechanism having an alarm tripping device, a plurality of switch elements, a shaft rot-atably mounted in a frame of the clock, a switch lever fixed to said shaft, said switch lever being normally spring actuated to rotate substantially parallel to said frame towards said switch elements, the relative position between said lever and the switch elements controlling the circuit through the latter, a pin transversely movable in the clock frame, said lever, when rotated away from the switch elements, being suitably formed for locking engagement with said pin, spring means for normally pressing said pin against said alarm tripping device whereby said pin follows same when tripped and is released thereby from engagement with said lever.

Signed at 318 Broadway, New York, in the county of New York and State of N. Y. this 15th day of October, A. D. 1925.

HER-MAN H. KEMPF. 

